Sod cutter



March 17, 1936. 4 w Q WINSTON r AL 2,034,016 SOD CUTTER Filed May 5,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l I nventovs f/fl. Wz'izs i072,

Attorney March 17, 1936.

w. o. WINSTON El AL 2,034,016

50D CUTTER Filed May 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet N k 4 I I w Q k L lnvenlor7K0, lfizzsiazz, JdGrz'ffi'i/z,

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March 17, 1936. w Q wms'roN ET AL 2,034,0l6

SOD CUTTER Filed May 3, 1955 s Shets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 17, 1936UNITED STATES PATENT orrics Application May a, 1935, Serial No. 19,738

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sodcutters and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set -forth, a machine of this character com- 5 prising anovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through themedium of which sods of uniform dimensions may be expedifiously cut inquantities in minimum time and with a minimum of labor.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a machineof the aforementioned character which may be conveniently adjusted asdesired to permit sods of various dimensions to be cut.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a machine of the character describedwhich is capable of vertical adjustment for regu-= lating the depth ofthe cuts to'be made and for disengaging the cutters from the ground whendesired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a sod cutting machine ofthe character set forth which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly emcient and desirable in use,compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a sod cutter constructed inaccordance with the present invention, the axle being shown in sectionand one of the supporting wheels being omitted.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical transverse section through the invention.

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of a portion of the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a framewhich is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The frame Iincludes angle iron side members 2 between the front and rear endportions of which pairs of complemental angle iron bars 3 extend, saidbars 3 defining transverse slots 4. The frame I further includes anangle iron 5 cross member I extending between the side memhere 2 at anintermediate point and upon which an operator's seat 6 may be mounted.

Mounted at an intermediate point on the side members 2 of the frame Iare bearings l in which a transversely extending crank axle t isjournaled. Rotatably mounted on the end portions of the crank axle 8 aresupporting wheels 9. The reference numeral l0 designates a hand leverwhich is pivotally mounted on the frame i and operatively connected tothe crank axle 8 by a 0 rod H for adjusting said frame i vertically. Thedesired adjustment is secured through the me-= dium of a suitable latchit on the hand lever it which is engageable in a notched segment it onthe frame 8.

Secured beneath the pairs of angle iron cross bars 3 is a plurality ofspaced, parallel, longitudinally extending I-beams It upon which pairsof substantially U-shaped hangers i5 are clamped through the medium ofbolts it. Journaled be- 20 tween each pair of hangers it is a disk knife41.

It will be noted that the knives ii are arranged in staggered relation,as best seen in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.

As illustrated to advantage in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, theI-beams I i are secured beneath the pairs of bars 3 throughthe medium ofbolts l8 which pass through the slots 3, thus permitting said I-beamswith the knives ll thereon to be adjusted laterally as desired on theframe I. The bolts iii are provided with securing nuts l9 which, ofcourse, are loosened when an adjustment is to be made. Washers 20 on thebolts l 8 bridge the slots 4. Any desired means may be provided forhitching the machine to a suitable source of power.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. The knives I! areadjusted as desired and the machine is drawn in one direction over theground in a manner to cut the sod into strips. Then, the machine iscaused to travel over the ground in a direction at right angles to thefirst-named direction for the purpose of cutting the aforementionedstrips transversely, thus providing sods of uniform dimensions. Anysuitable implement or machine may then be utilized for removing orsevering the sods which have thus been cut from the ground. The knivesI! are elevated out of engagement with the ground when said knives arenot cutting through the medium of the lever It, said lever I 0 alsoconstituting means for regulating the depth of the cuts being made. Ifnecessary or desirable, the machine may be weighted in any suitablemanner as by placing bags of sand thereon. While flve knives have beenshown, any desired number of said knives may be provided. Ashereinbefore stated, the dimensions of the sods being cut may beregulated as desired by adjusting the knives l1 laterally on the frameI. It will also be noted that the knives I! may be adjustedlongitudinally if desired by shifting the hangers IS on the I-beams I4.

It is believed that the advantages of a sod cutter constructed inaccordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:-

l. A sod cutter comprising a wheel supported frame, a plurality ofspaced, parallel beams mounted longitudinally on said frame, pairs ofsubstantially U-shaped hangers clamped on opposite sides of said beamsand depending therefrom, and disk knives journaled between said pairs ofhangers for operative engagement with the ground.

2. A sod cutter comprising a wheel supported frame, said frame includinglongitudinally extending side members and further including pairs ofspaced bars extending between the end portions ofv said side members,said pairs of spaced bars defining transverse slots, a plurality ofspaced,

parallel beams extending longitudinally between the pairs of bars, meansengaged in the slots for adjustably securing said beams to the pairs ofbars,

pairs of hangersdepending from the beams, and disk knives journaledbetween the pairs of hangers.

3. A sod cutter comprising a wheel supported frame having transverselyextending slots therein, a plurality of spaced, parallel, longitudinallyextending beams mounted on the frame, means engaged in the slots forsecuring the beams to the frame for lateral adjustment, pairs ofsubstantially U-shaped hangers mounted for longitudinal adjustment onthe beams and depending therefrom, and disk knives journaled between thepairs of hangers and operatively engageable with the ground. 1

4. A sod cutter comprising a frame including longitudinal side membersand further including pairs of bars extending between the end portionsof said side members, said pairs of bars-being spaced from each otherand defining transverse slots, a crank axle journaled transversely onthe frame at an intermediate point, supporting wheels journaled on saidcrank axle, manually operable means mounted on the frame and connectedto the crank-axle for adjusting said frame vertically, a plurality ofspaced, parallel beams extending longitudinally between the pairs ofbars, means on said beams engageable in the slots for securing saidbeams to the frame for lateral adjustment, pairs of hangers mounted forlongitudinal adjustment on the beams and depending therefrom, and diskknives journaled between the pairs of hangers for operativeengagementwith the ground.

' WILLIAM 0. WINSTON.

JOHN G. GRIFFITH.

